Peter Dempsey (Kiltullagh)

Peter Dempsey (Kiltullagh) was a tenant farmer who was murdered during the Irish Land War on 28 May 1881.[1] He was shot dead while walking to Mass with his two daughters across a field mass path.

Dempsey had taken over an 18-acre (73,000 m2) holding near Hollypark, Loughrea after the previous tenant, Murty Hynes, had given it up following a speech by Matt Harris. Hynes relinquished the holdings in September 1880 after Harris, who was a Fenian, Land Leaguer, Irish nationalist and Westminster MP, condemned him in a speech for taking a farm after the previous occupant (Martin Bermingham) had been evicted for non-payment of rent. Dempsey refused to leave the farm and was killed. Two men were charged with murder and were acquitted. Few attended Dempsey's funeral.

See also

Sources
  • The Land War in South East Galway (1879-1891), a thesis by Anne Finnegan
  • As The Centuries Passed: A History of Kiltullagh 1500–1900, edited Kieran Jordan, 2000
    • The Land Wars, Kevin and Kieran Jordan, in op.cit.
  • The District of Loughrea: Vol. I History 1791-1918. ISBN 0-9546567-0-9

References
  1. 'A correspondent in Loughrea' (1 June 1881 (republished 1 June 2010)). "JUNE 1ST, 1881: Land War victim shot on way to Mass with his children". Irish Times. IrishTimes.com. Retrieved 1 June 2010. Check date values in: |date= (help)
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